The Opera Game was an 1858 chess game, played at an opera house in Paris. The American master Paul Morphy played against two strong amateurs: the German noble Karl II, Duke of Brunswick, and the French aristocrat Comte Isouard de Vauvenargues. It was played as a consultation game, with Duke Karl and Count Isouard jointly deciding each move for the black pieces, while Morphy controlled the white pieces by himself. The game was played in a box while an opera was performed on stage.[a] Morphy quickly checkmated his opponents following rapid development of material, involving a queen sacrifice.
Animation of the Opera Game
It is among the most famous of chess games.[4] The game is often used by chess instructors to teach the importance of piece development, the value of sacrifices in mating combinations, and other concepts.
White: Paul Morphy Black: Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard Opening: Philidor Defence (ECO C41) Paris, October/November[1][3] 1858
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
This is Philidor's Defence, named after François-André Danican Philidor, the leading chess master of the second half of the 18th century and a pioneer of modern chess strategy. He was also a noted opera composer. It is a solid opening, but slightly passive, and it ignores the important d4-square. Most modern players prefer 2...Nc6 or 2...Nf6, the Petrov Defence.
Though common at the time, 3...Bg4 is considered inferior.[5] Today 3...exd4 or 3...Nf6 are usual. Philidor's original idea, 3...f5, is a risky alternative. Bobby Fischer, in his analysis of the game, calls it a weak move.
4. dxe5 Bxf3
If 4...dxe5, then 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Nxe5 and White wins a pawn and Black has lost the ability to castle, and White is threatening Nxf7+ winning the rook. If 4...Qe7, White remains a pawn up with 5.Qd5. Black, however, did have the option of 4...Nd7 5.exd6 Bxd6. In this position, black is down a pawn but has some compensation in the form of better development.
5. Qxf3
Steinitz's recommendation 5.gxf3 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 7.f4 is also good, but Morphy prefers to keep the queens on. After Black recaptures the pawn on e5, White has a significant lead in development. Queen capturing is the most natural move as it keeps a healthy kingside pawn structure.
This seemingly sound developing move runs into a surprising refutation. After White's next move, both f7 and b7 will be under attack. Better would have been to directly protect the f7-pawn with 6...Qd7 or 6...Qf6, making White's next move less potent.
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Position after 7...Qe7
7. Qb3 Qe7 (diagram)
Black's only good move. White was threatening mate in two moves, for example 7...Nc6 8.Bxf7+ Ke7 (or Kd7) 9.Qe6#. 7...Qd7 loses the rook to 8.Qxb7 followed by 9.Qxa8 (since 8...Qc6? would lose the queen to 9.Bb5). Notice that 7...Qe7 saves the rook with this combination: 8.Qxb7 Qb4+ forcing a queen exchange.
Although this move prevents immediate disaster, Black is forced to block the f8-bishop, impeding development and kingside castling.
8. Nc3
Morphy could have won a pawn by 8.Qxb7 Qb4+ 9.Qxb4 Bxb4+. White can also win more material with 8.Bxf7+ Qxf7 9.Qxb7, but Black has dangerous counterplay after 9...Bc5! and 10.Qxa8 0-0, or 10.Qc8+ Ke7 11.Qxh8 Bxf2+!. "But that would have been a butcher’s method, not an artist's." (Lasker).[1][3] In keeping with his style, Morphy prefers rapid development and initiative over material.
8... c6
The best move, allowing Black to defend his pawn without further weakening the light squares, which have been weakened by Black trading off his light-square bishop.
9. Bg5 b5?
Black attempts to drive away the bishop and gain some time, but this move allows Morphy a strong sacrifice to keep the initiative. This move loses but it is difficult to find anything better; for example 9...Na6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Bxa6 bxa6 12.Qa4 Qb7 and Black's position is very weak.
10. Nxb5!
Morphy chooses not to retreat the bishop, which would allow Black to gain time for development.
10... cxb5
Black could have prolonged the game by playing 10...Qb4+, forcing the exchange of queens, but White wins comfortably after either 11.Nc3 or 11.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 12.c3!
11. Bxb5+
Not 11.Bd5? Qb4+, unpinning the knight and allowing the rook to evade capture.
11... Nbd7
11...Kd8 holds out longer, but 12.0-0-0+ still gives White a winning attack.
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Position after 12...Rd8
12. 0-0-0 Rd8 (diagram)
The combination of the pins on the knights and the open file for White's rook will lead to Black's defeat.
13. Rxd7 Rxd7
Removing another defender.
14. Rd1
White's piece activity is in marked contrast to Black's passivity. Black's d7-rook cannot be saved, since it is pinned to the king by the bishop and attacked by the rook, and though the knight defends it, the knight is pinned to the queen.
14... Qe6
Qe6 is a futile attempt to unpin the knight (allowing it to defend the rook) and offer a queen trade, to take some pressure out of the white attack. Even if Morphy did not play his next crushing move, he could have always traded his bishop for the knight, followed by winning the rook.
15. Bxd7+ Nxd7
If 15...Qxd7, then 16.Qb8+ Ke7 17.Qxe5+ Kd8 18.Bxf6+ gxf6 19.Qxf6+ Kc8 20.Rxd7 Kxd7 21.Qxh8 and White is clearly winning. Moving the king leads to mate: 15...Ke7 16.Qb4+ Qd6 (16...Kd8 17.Qb8+ Ke7 18.Qe8#) 17.Qxd6+ Kd8 18.Qb8+ Ke7 19.Qe8# or 15...Kd8 16.Qb8+ Ke7 17.Qe8#.
Final position after 17.Rd8#. White mates with his two remaining pieces.
This mating pattern is sometimes called the "opera mate" in reference to this game.[7] Other than the king, all of White's remaining pieces play a role in the checkmate. Therefore, the position satisfies the definition of an economical mate. Economical mate is one of a few terms used by chess problemcomposers to describe the aesthetic properties of a checkmate position; related concepts include pure mate, model mate, and ideal mate.[8][9] The final position nearly satisfies the criteria of a model mate, but fails for one reason: there are two reasons why the black king cannot be moved to the square f8. It is occupied by a bishop of the same color, and it is guarded by the white rook.
Notesedit
^It is unclear which opera was being performed while the chess game was played. Although some sources have indicated The Barber of Seville,[1][2] chess historian Edward Winter indicated that other sources have pointed to Bellini'sNorma, among other possibilities. Although Winter himself refrained from pronouncing on the matter, his correspondent Fabrizio Zavatarelli wrote that the game was likely played during a performance of either the Barber of Seville or Norma. Winter's analysis points to a day in late October or early November of 1858, but this is also uncertain.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcSergeant, Philip W. (1957). Morphy's Games of Chess. Dover. pp. 149–150. ISBN0486203867.
^Horton, Byrne J. (1959). Dictionary of Modern Chess. Philosophical Library. pp. 56, 133–134, 164.
Further readingedit
The Exploits & Triumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy the Chess Champion by Frederick Milne Edge, with a new introduction by David Lawson. Dover 1973; 203 pages. ISBN0-486-22882-7
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The Opera Game was an 1858 chess game played at an opera house in Paris The American master Paul Morphy played against two strong amateurs the German noble Karl II Duke of Brunswick and the French aristocrat Comte Isouard de Vauvenargues It was played as a consultation game with Duke Karl and Count Isouard jointly deciding each move for the black pieces while Morphy controlled the white pieces by himself The game was played in a box while an opera was performed on stage a Morphy quickly checkmated his opponents following rapid development of material involving a queen sacrifice Animation of the Opera GameIt is among the most famous of chess games 4 The game is often used by chess instructors to teach the importance of piece development the value of sacrifices in mating combinations and other concepts Contents 1 The game 2 Notes 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksThis article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves The game editWhite Paul Morphy Black Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard Opening Philidor Defence ECO C41 Paris October November 1 3 18581 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6 This is Philidor s Defence named after Francois Andre Danican Philidor the leading chess master of the second half of the 18th century and a pioneer of modern chess strategy He was also a noted opera composer It is a solid opening but slightly passive and it ignores the important d4 square Most modern players prefer 2 Nc6 or 2 Nf6 the Petrov Defence 3 d4 Bg4 Though common at the time 3 Bg4 is considered inferior 5 Today 3 exd4 or 3 Nf6 are usual Philidor s original idea 3 f5 is a risky alternative Bobby Fischer in his analysis of the game calls it a weak move 4 dxe5 Bxf3 If 4 dxe5 then 5 Qxd8 Kxd8 6 Nxe5 and White wins a pawn and Black has lost the ability to castle and White is threatening Nxf7 winning the rook If 4 Qe7 White remains a pawn up with 5 Qd5 Black however did have the option of 4 Nd7 5 exd6 Bxd6 In this position black is down a pawn but has some compensation in the form of better development 5 Qxf3 Steinitz s recommendation 5 gxf3 dxe5 6 Qxd8 Kxd8 7 f4 is also good but Morphy prefers to keep the queens on After Black recaptures the pawn on e5 White has a significant lead in development Queen capturing is the most natural move as it keeps a healthy kingside pawn structure 5 dxe5 6 Bc4 Nf6 This seemingly sound developing move runs into a surprising refutation After White s next move both f7 and b7 will be under attack Better would have been to directly protect the f7 pawn with 6 Qd7 or 6 Qf6 making White s next move less potent abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghPosition after 7 Qe7 7 Qb3 Qe7 diagram Black s only good move White was threatening mate in two moves for example 7 Nc6 8 Bxf7 Ke7 or Kd7 9 Qe6 7 Qd7 loses the rook to 8 Qxb7 followed by 9 Qxa8 since 8 Qc6 would lose the queen to 9 Bb5 Notice that 7 Qe7 saves the rook with this combination 8 Qxb7 Qb4 forcing a queen exchange Although this move prevents immediate disaster Black is forced to block the f8 bishop impeding development and kingside castling 8 Nc3 Morphy could have won a pawn by 8 Qxb7 Qb4 9 Qxb4 Bxb4 White can also win more material with 8 Bxf7 Qxf7 9 Qxb7 but Black has dangerous counterplay after 9 Bc5 and 10 Qxa8 0 0 or 10 Qc8 Ke7 11 Qxh8 Bxf2 But that would have been a butcher s method not an artist s Lasker 1 3 In keeping with his style Morphy prefers rapid development and initiative over material 8 c6 The best move allowing Black to defend his pawn without further weakening the light squares which have been weakened by Black trading off his light square bishop 9 Bg5 b5 Black attempts to drive away the bishop and gain some time but this move allows Morphy a strong sacrifice to keep the initiative This move loses but it is difficult to find anything better for example 9 Na6 10 Bxf6 gxf6 11 Bxa6 bxa6 12 Qa4 Qb7 and Black s position is very weak 10 Nxb5 Morphy chooses not to retreat the bishop which would allow Black to gain time for development 10 cxb5 Black could have prolonged the game by playing 10 Qb4 forcing the exchange of queens but White wins comfortably after either 11 Nc3 or 11 Qxb4 Bxb4 12 c3 11 Bxb5 Not 11 Bd5 Qb4 unpinning the knight and allowing the rook to evade capture 11 Nbd7 11 Kd8 holds out longer but 12 0 0 0 still gives White a winning attack abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghPosition after 12 Rd8 12 0 0 0 Rd8 diagram The combination of the pins on the knights and the open file for White s rook will lead to Black s defeat 13 Rxd7 Rxd7 Removing another defender 14 Rd1 White s piece activity is in marked contrast to Black s passivity Black s d7 rook cannot be saved since it is pinned to the king by the bishop and attacked by the rook and though the knight defends it the knight is pinned to the queen 14 Qe6 Qe6 is a futile attempt to unpin the knight allowing it to defend the rook and offer a queen trade to take some pressure out of the white attack Even if Morphy did not play his next crushing move he could have always traded his bishop for the knight followed by winning the rook 15 Bxd7 Nxd7 If 15 Qxd7 then 16 Qb8 Ke7 17 Qxe5 Kd8 18 Bxf6 gxf6 19 Qxf6 Kc8 20 Rxd7 Kxd7 21 Qxh8 and White is clearly winning Moving the king leads to mate 15 Ke7 16 Qb4 Qd6 16 Kd8 17 Qb8 Ke7 18 Qe8 17 Qxd6 Kd8 18 Qb8 Ke7 19 Qe8 or 15 Kd8 16 Qb8 Ke7 17 Qe8 16 Qb8 Morphy finishes with a queen sacrifice 16 Nxb8 17 Rd8 1 0 6 abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghFinal position after 17 Rd8 White mates with his two remaining pieces This mating pattern is sometimes called the opera mate in reference to this game 7 Other than the king all of White s remaining pieces play a role in the checkmate Therefore the position satisfies the definition of an economical mate Economical mate is one of a few terms used by chess problem composers to describe the aesthetic properties of a checkmate position related concepts include pure mate model mate and ideal mate 8 9 The final position nearly satisfies the criteria of a model mate but fails for one reason there are two reasons why the black king cannot be moved to the square f8 It is occupied by a bishop of the same color and it is guarded by the white rook Notes edit It is unclear which opera was being performed while the chess game was played Although some sources have indicated The Barber of Seville 1 2 chess historian Edward Winter indicated that other sources have pointed to Bellini s Norma among other possibilities Although Winter himself refrained from pronouncing on the matter his correspondent Fabrizio Zavatarelli wrote that the game was likely played during a performance of either the Barber of Seville or Norma Winter s analysis points to a day in late October or early November of 1858 but this is also uncertain 3 References edit a b c Sergeant Philip W 1957 Morphy s Games of Chess Dover pp 149 150 ISBN 0486203867 Whyld Kenneth 1993 Learn Chess in a Weekend Knopf DK p 87 ISBN 9780679422297 a b c Winter Edward Morphy v the Duke and Count chesshistory com Marshall Frank J 1932 Comparative Chess Philadelphia David McKay company p 54 Retrieved 27 November 2021 von Bilguer Paul Rudolf 1843 Handbuch des Schachspiels Paul Morphy vs Duke Karl Count Isouard Paris 1858 Chessgames com Jonathan Tisdall Improve Your Chess Now Everyman Chess 1997 pp 192 194 201 202 ISBN 1 85744 156 7 Hooper David Whyld Kenneth 1996 first pub 1992 The Oxford Companion to Chess second ed Oxford Oxford University Press pp 179 262 326 327 ISBN 9780198661641 Horton Byrne J 1959 Dictionary of Modern Chess Philosophical Library pp 56 133 134 164 Further reading editThe Exploits amp Triumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy the Chess Champion by Frederick Milne Edge with a new introduction by David Lawson Dover 1973 203 pages ISBN 0 486 22882 7 Kasparov Garry 2003 My Great Predecessors part I Everyman Chess pp 39 40 ISBN 1 85744 330 6External links editLe mat de l opera in French variations of the game s final in other chessproblems and games 2 July 2008 Video commentary on the game by Bobby Fischer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opera Game amp oldid 1199055901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
